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Supplemental_Information:

Equipment Used -
VanVeengrab
Notes -
May 15, 1998

FARALLONS CRUISE
A survey of the Farallon Islands Radioactive Waste Dump site was
recently completed using the NOAA ship McArthur. The survey
was a collaboration among the U.S .Environmental Protection Agency,
the U.S. Geological Survey, the British Geological Survey, and the
Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Approximately
47,800 barrels of low-level radioactive waste were dumped at 3 sites
between 1946 and 1970. The barrels litter a 1400-square-km area,
most of which is now within the boundary of the Gulf of the
Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Previous studies in 1990,
using SeaMARC 1A, identified objects on the seafloor at the site
which were interpreted as barrels. This interpretation was confirmed
by video footage during the sidescan cruise, and subsequently in 1994
using the U.S. Navy submersible 'Sea Cliff' and the unmanned
Advanced Tethered Vehicle. Systematic regional data on seafloor
radioactivity were obtained on the McArthur using the BGS-towed
sea-bed gamma-ray spectrometer (EEL) system. More localized data
were also collected with the system at known sites of barrel clusters.
Sediment samples were collected, both regionally and around the
known barrel clusters, for subsequent laboratory analysis. Studies
were focused on the shallower parts of the dump site where commercial
fishing is carried out. About 90 line-km of EEL trackline were
obtained in the shallowest part of the dump site (the '90 m site'),
and 9 sediment samples were collected at locations determined
by the variation in the EEL "signature". Approximately 80 line-km
of EEL data were gathered in the intermediate-depth section of the
site (the '900 m site') and extending towards the deepest part
(the '1800m site'). Six sediment samples were collected on the
tracklines at the 900-m site. In addition, 10 samples were collected
clustered around known barrel clusters. The deepest EEL survey line
was towed in 1500 m of water, extending the previous record for the
system (600m) by a considerable margin. Preliminary interpretation
of the data suggests that the observed variations in seafloor
radioactivity can be attributed to geological features. There were no
indications of man-made radioactivity, suggesting that, if present on
a regional scale, it is only at very low levels. Further information
will become available when data and sample analyses are completed.
Participants on the cruise were Dave Jones and Phil Roberts (BGS),
Dan Howard (GFNMS), and Bob Hall and Lynn Karr (USEPA) (who due to
circumstances beyond our control, were replaced by Scott Faller (USEPA)),
Pat Shanks (USGS-Denver), John Chin, Michael Hamer, Gita Dunhill,
Fred Payne, and Herman Karl. MarFac, coordinated by Steve Wallace
and Dave Hogg, as usual, provided excellent support in getting
this cruise out to sea, and shipping equipment back to England.
Owing to the efforts of all above, this cruise was highly successful,
despite extremely adverse conditions. It is one cruise that Herman
Karl is glad to have behind him, however! Of note, and of unknown
significance, is that a rainbow appeared both at the start and end
of the cruise, just as the McArthur sailed under the Golden Gate.
For a snapshot of the cruise go to:
<http://www.pmc.noaa.gov/mcarthur/ar9803.htm> to view the website
prepared by Kaye Kinoshita.
Publications -
<a href="<http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/circular/c1198/c1198_short.pdf>"><http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/circular/c1198/c1198_short.pdf>, p. 68-71</a><BR>
<HR>
<a href="<http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/circular/c1198/chapters/218-237_MeasuringRad.pdf>"><http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/circular/c1198/chapters/218-237_MeasuringRad.pdf>

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Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as
the source of this information.
Physical materials are under controlled on-site access.
Some USGS information accessed through this means
may be preliminary in nature and presented without
the approval of the Director of the USGS. This
information is provided with the understanding
that it is not guaranteed to be correct or complete
and conclusions drawn from such information are
the responsibility of the user.
This information is not intended for navigational
purposes.
Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for
descriptive purposes only and does not imply
endorsement by the U.S. Government.